Histone demethylase KDM3A is required for enhancer activation of hippo target genes in colorectal cancer

Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Mar 18;47(5):2349-2364. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky1317.

Abstract

Hippo pathway is involved in tumorigenesis, and its regulation in cytosol has been extensively studied, but its regulatory mechanisms in the nuclear are not clear. In the current study, using a FBS-inducing model following serum starvation, we identified KDM3A, a demethylase of histone H3K9me1/2, as a positive regulator for hippo target genes. KDM3A promotes gene expression through two mechanisms, one is to upregulate YAP1 expression, and the other is to facilitate H3K27ac on the enhancers of hippo target genes. H3K27ac upregulation is more relevant with gene activation, but not H3K4me3; and KDM3A depletion caused H3K9me2 upregulation mainly on TEAD1-binding enhancers rather than gene bodies, further resulting in H3K27ac decrease, less TEAD1 binding on enhancers and impaired transcription. Moreover, KDM3A is associated with p300 and required for p300 recruitment to enhancers. KDM3A deficiency delayed cancer cell growth and migration, which was rescued by YAP1 expression. KDM3A expression is correlated with YAP1 and hippo target genes in colorectal cancer patient tissues, and may serve as a potential prognosis mark. Taken together, our study reveals novel mechanisms for hippo signaling and enhancer activation, which is critical for tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics*
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • TEAD1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • KDM3A protein, human
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases